Disc amusement device with cord-receiving openings and removable rim



Feb. 15, 1966 F. E. B DGES 3,234,684

DISC AMUSEMENT DEVIC ITH CORD-RECEIVING OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE RIM FiledFeb. 11, 1963 INVENTOR. Ford 5 Bridges Robe/1 J Pa/c/J ATT).

United States Patent O 3,234,684 DISC AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH CORD-RECEIV-ING OPENINGS AND REMOVABLE RIM Ford E. Bridges, Rte. 5, Box 156, Tulsa,Okla. Filed Feb. 11, 1963, Ser. No. 257,412 6 Claims. (Cl. 4663) Thepresent invention relates to amusement devices, more particularly of thetype embodied in a rotatable disc. Such rotatable-disc amusement deviceshave utility in a number of environments, and will be illustrated by wayof example in connection with two such environ ments, namely, spinningdisc toys and rolling hoop toys.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an amusement devicesthe parts of which are locked against movement relative to each other.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a spinning toyincluding a filament that can be readily changed when worn or broken.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a hooptoy having a novel mode of operation.

Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide anamusement device which is relatively simple and inexpensive tomanufacture and assemble, easy and amusing to operate and repair, andrugged and durable in use.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the following description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an amusement device according to thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the inner sheet ofthe amusement device;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURES 1 and 2 but showing the rim of theamusement device;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the amusement device of this inventionincorporated in the environment of a spinning toy;

FIGURE 5 is the amusement device in the hoop; and

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional view of a peripheralportion of the amusement device of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawing in greater detail, there is shown anamusement device embodying the present invention, in the form of acircular disc 1 in the central portion of which is comprised of acircular flat sheet 3 of uniform thickness. Sheet 3 has a plurality ofnotches 5 and 7 in spaced relationship about its periphery. Notches 5are relatively large notches, while notches 7 are relatively smallnotches. Notches 5 are disposed in diametrically opposed pairs onopposite sides of sheet 3, as are also notches 7.

Disc 1 also includes a circular rim 9 which in the illustratedembodiment is a ring of circular cross-sectional configuration. On itsradially inner side, rim 9 is provided with a recess 11 extendingentirely thereabout. Projections or keys 13 are disposed at spacedlocations within recess 11, however, so that recess 11 is not continuousentirely about the inner periphery of rim 9.

Sheet 3 is preferably of relatively rigid material and may be hardfiberboard, wood, metal, rigid plastic, or the like. Rim 9, on the otherhand, is preferably an elastic deformable material such as rubber orpolyvinyl chloride or the like. To assemble rim *9 on sheet 3,therefore, it is necessary only to insert one portion of the edge ofsheet 3 into recess 11 of rim 9 with a notch 5 or 7 in registry with aprojection or key 13 so that the key 13 will be disposed in the notch.The remainder a view similar to FIGURE 4 but showing environment of arollable 3,234,684 Patented Feb. 15, 1966 of rim 9 can then be stretchedand snapped over the rest of the periphery of sheet 3 and theprojections or keys 13, which are disposed at the same peripheralspacing as notches 5 and 7, will each fall in an associated notch 5 or7.

In assembled relationship, therefore, disc 1 is characterized by themarginal edges of sheet 3 being encompassed on both sides by thematerial of rim 9. Recess 11, however, is not as deep as any notch 5 or7, so that the closing of the outer ends of notches 5 and 7 by rim 9 andmore particularly projections or keys 13 thereon will leave openingsthrough disc 1 which are comprised by the inner ends of notches 5 and 7.The openings provided by the inner ends of notches 5 are of coursesubstantially larger than the openings provided by the inner ends ofnotches 7. Similarly, rim 9 may be unsnapped from sheet 3 and removed byan action which is the reverse of the assembly procedure.

Disc 1 as shown in FIGURE 1 has considerable amusement value by itself.It may be rolled or it may be spun or it may be thrown, and atsufiiciently high speed of rotation will make a noise by virtue of thepresence of the holes provided by the inner ends of notches 5 and 7.These same holes provide finger grips and the like for spinning orrotating disc 1. At the same time, however, it should be borne in mindthat by virtue of projections or keys 13 in the outer ends of notches 5and 7, sheet 3 and rim 9 will not have rotation relative to each other,and this phenomenon is a further source of amusement when playing withdisc 1.

Although disc 1 has amusement value by itself, it is preferred that itbe used in connection with other simple equipment or accessories. Onesuch further use for disc 1 is shown in FIGURE 4, in which disc 1 isembodied in the form of a spinner toy. A filament 15 passes through eachof a pair of diametrically opposed notches 5 or 7, preferably notches 7,and is in the form of a continuous closed loop. Filament 15 may forexample be string or a rubber band or the like. When disc 1 is rotatedand winds up filament 15 in opposite directions on opposite sides ofdisc 1, then a pull in opposite directions, as shown in FIGURE 4, willspin disc 1 quite rapidly, and the momentum of the spinning disc willcause filament 15 not only to straighten out but also to wind up in theopposite direction, so that periodic pulls on filament 15 in oppositedirections will cause disc 1 to spin rapidly and alternately in oppositedirections. Should filament 15 become broken or worn, then rim 9 can beunsnapped from sheet 3, a new filament 15 inserted in a diametricallyopposed pair of notches 7, and rim 9 replaced, after which the toy isready for use again.

Another environment in which disc 1 may be used is a hoop toy which isrollable along the ground for amusement purposes. As is shown in FIGURE5, an elongated handle 17 is a portion of this embodiment of theamusement device, handle 17 having at its lower end at least onelaterally extending portion 19, and preferably a pair of laterallyextending portions 19 extending in opposite directions from each other.Portion 19 is of a size that can be readily fitted into the inner endsof notches 5 when rim 9 is in place, thereby to propel disc 1 in amanner of a hoop.

In operation, the hoop embodiment of FIGURE 5 of the drawing ischaracterized in that the initial momentum is imparted to the hoop byinserting laterally extending portion 19 on handle 17 into one of therelatively large openings provided by large notches 5 and giving thehoop a shove with the handle. When the hoop has been started rolling inthat manner, then handle 17 and its laterally extending portion 19 maybe removed from the openings provided by notches 5 and thereafter usedin the manner 3 of FIGURE 5, that is, as a pusher for keeping the hoopin motion.

The versatility of die 1 will therefore be seen, in that different sizenotches 5 and 7 are provided so as to facilitate the playing of avariety of games. At the same time, however, the speed and ease ofassembly and disassembly of the amusement device of the presentinvention make it quite easy't-o assemble and disassemble the device andto keep the device clean. The formation of sheet 3 as a fiat sheet makesit easy to imprint sheet 3 with designs or with advertising, and thecheap and simple construction and assembly of the device makes it idealas an advertising give-away item. The elastic deformable nature of rim 9makes the device quite safe for even the young- 3 above any fiatsupporting surface, advertising material on the fiat sides rub off.

From'a consideration of the foregoing disclosure, therefore, it will:beevident that all of the initially recited objects of the presentinvention have been achived.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated inconnection'with preferred embodiments, it is tobe understood thatmodifications and variations may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention, as those skilled in this tion as defined bythe appended claims.

What'is claimed is:

1. An amusement device comprising a flat sheet having a plurality ofslots opening throughits periphery, and a removable rim encompassing theperiphery of the sheet and closing the outer but not the inner ends ofthe slots. 2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, the rim beingof an elastic deformable material and being 5 resiliently detachablymounted on the sheet.

3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, the sheet and the rimbeing circular.

4. An amusement device as claimed in claim 3, the rim having projectionsthereon that extend into the outer 10 ends of the slots to preventrotationof the sheet and the rim relative to each other.

5. A spinning toy comprising an amusement device as claimed in claimthrough each of a diametrically opposed pair of slots.

6. A spinning toy being in the form of References Cited by the ExaminerUNITED STATES PATENTS 540,815 6/1895 Le Clear. -46-62X 662,034 11/1900Smith -46-220 879,152 2/1908 Diack 46 62 1,613,331 1/1927 Schreinen 4662 1,760,622 5/1930 Aronson 4662X 1,901,547 3/1933 Brady 46 63 1,965,2407/1934 Hill 46220 3,131,506 5/1964 Fox 46 63 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,156 1911Great Britain.

DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

1. AN AMUSEMENT DEVICE COMPRISING A FLAT SHEET HAVING A PLURALITY OFSLOTS OPENING THROUGH ITS PERIPHERY, AND A REMOVABLE RIM ENCOMPASSINGTHE PERIPHERY OF THE SHEET AND CLOSING THE OUTER BUT NOT THE INNER ENDSOF THE SLOTS.